Euan Jones, 21
The Passionate UK Builder Driving Regional Growth and National Hackathon Support
Before entering computer science, Euan Jones was pursuing a career in academic research as a Biomedical Scientist. During his first year at university, he was introduced to bioinformatics and his first coding language: R - an unconventional starting point for learning to code, but one that completely shifted his trajectory. "It was here that I learned to love coding, taking in data about cardiac function and enzyme activity and using coding to uncover its hidden meaning," he explains. Driven by a desire to explore this new domain, he took a bold step. As Euan recalls, "Eventually, I took the leap and changed to a CS degree, and multiple hackathons, and many late nights fixing syntax errors later, I have never looked back!"
His entry into the hacker community came not as a competitor, but as an organizer. Serving as a First Year Representative for the Sheffield Computer Science Society (Sheffield CompSoc), Euan was thrust into the fast-paced world of event logistics at HackSheffield 9 despite having never heard of a hackathon before. Throwing himself into venue operations, he quickly discovered a passion for the energy and momentum of student-led tech events. "From running lunch like an airport terminal, to hosting carnival games in the basement, I was dashing around all over the venue, but the sheer chaos of a hackathon is exactly what I love about them." That trial by fire ignited a lasting commitment to student leadership, leading him to step up as Hackathons Lead Organizer and co-lead for HackSheffield 10, where he brought together over 150 students from across the country for one of the largest student-led events at his university.
“My impact on the hacker community has largely been driven by my passion to give more students the opportunity to take part in hackathons so they can have the experiences that [...] have had such a large impact on my life and development,” Euan reflects. Aware of gender disparities in technology, he encouraged a friend in his university's Women in Computer Science Society to launch an inclusive hackathon, stepping in to support the project both personally and as an associate. "Seeing the event come to fruition and introduce a whole new group of students to the hacker community was extremely rewarding," he notes. His involvement helped grow Sheffield's ecosystem from a single annual event to three distinct hackathons while building collaborative connections with neighboring universities to lay the foundation for future events. Expanding his reach nationally as a Pre-Event Support Associate at HackathonsUK, Euan now mentors student organizers across the country to help them get their events running. "I like to think that I can have a direct impact on the community, but also indirect impact by encouraging and supporting other hackers and organizers."
Euan’s journey proves that a passion for technology can begin anywhere - and that building accessible, welcoming communities is key to empowering the next generation of creators. "I think coming from a non tech background means that I understand that hackathons are for everyone" he explains. "Anyone can be a part of the hacker community and anyone can be a part of the larger tech community."
Quick Facts
Euan Jones, 21
The Passionate UK Builder Driving Regional Growth and National Hackathon Support
Before entering computer science, Euan Jones was pursuing a career in academic research as a Biomedical Scientist. During his first year at university, he was introduced to bioinformatics and his first coding language: R - an unconventional starting point for learning to code, but one that completely shifted his trajectory. "It was here that I learned to love coding, taking in data about cardiac function and enzyme activity and using coding to uncover its hidden meaning," he explains. Driven by a desire to explore this new domain, he took a bold step. As Euan recalls, "Eventually, I took the leap and changed to a CS degree, and multiple hackathons, and many late nights fixing syntax errors later, I have never looked back!"
His entry into the hacker community came not as a competitor, but as an organizer. Serving as a First Year Representative for the Sheffield Computer Science Society (Sheffield CompSoc), Euan was thrust into the fast-paced world of event logistics at HackSheffield 9 despite having never heard of a hackathon before. Throwing himself into venue operations, he quickly discovered a passion for the energy and momentum of student-led tech events. "From running lunch like an airport terminal, to hosting carnival games in the basement, I was dashing around all over the venue, but the sheer chaos of a hackathon is exactly what I love about them." That trial by fire ignited a lasting commitment to student leadership, leading him to step up as Hackathons Lead Organizer and co-lead for HackSheffield 10, where he brought together over 150 students from across the country for one of the largest student-led events at his university.
“My impact on the hacker community has largely been driven by my passion to give more students the opportunity to take part in hackathons so they can have the experiences that [...] have had such a large impact on my life and development,” Euan reflects. Aware of gender disparities in technology, he encouraged a friend in his university's Women in Computer Science Society to launch an inclusive hackathon, stepping in to support the project both personally and as an associate. "Seeing the event come to fruition and introduce a whole new group of students to the hacker community was extremely rewarding," he notes. His involvement helped grow Sheffield's ecosystem from a single annual event to three distinct hackathons while building collaborative connections with neighboring universities to lay the foundation for future events. Expanding his reach nationally as a Pre-Event Support Associate at HackathonsUK, Euan now mentors student organizers across the country to help them get their events running. "I like to think that I can have a direct impact on the community, but also indirect impact by encouraging and supporting other hackers and organizers."
Euan’s journey proves that a passion for technology can begin anywhere - and that building accessible, welcoming communities is key to empowering the next generation of creators. "I think coming from a non tech background means that I understand that hackathons are for everyone" he explains. "Anyone can be a part of the hacker community and anyone can be a part of the larger tech community."
